USA > Maine > Oxford County > Bethel > History of Bethel : formerly Sudbury, Canada, Oxford County, Maine, 1768-1890, with a brief sketch of Hanover and family statistics > Part 15
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EZRA TWITCHELL.
Ezra Twitchell came to Bethel about the same time with his brother Eli, and settled on the farm afterward occupied by his grandson, Alphin Twitchell. He was born in Sherburn, Massa- chusetts, June twenty-third, seventeen hundred and forty-six, and
CAPT. PETER TWITCHELL.
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married Miss Susanna Rice of Framingham. He first resided in Dublin, New Hampshire, and afterwards removed to Bethel. He was chosen deacon of the Congregational church in Bethel, which office he worthily filled till his death. He had ten children. The eldest four children died the same day of throat distemper, leaving them childless. This occurred in Dublin. So stupefied were the parents at the terrible stroke, that they could not shed a tear at the time.
PETER TWITCHELL.
Captain Peter Twitchell, youngest son of Capt. Joseph Twitchell, was born in Sherburn, Massachusetts, July thirteenth, seventeen hundred and sixty-one. At the age of seventeen, he made a visit to Bethel, when there was no other house in the west part of the town except his brother Eleazer's on the island near the grist mill. This was in seventeen hundred and seventy-eight. He also visited the town in seventeen hundred and eighty-two, when the garrison was still standing. He was a man of uncommon strength. He used to relate an anecdote of his second visit here. There was a man at his brother's who was boasting of his skill at wrestling, when Captain Twitchell told him that he could throw him over a house. The fellow rather jeered him, when the captain caught his arms around him and ran up the shed roof of his brother's house and was about to throw him over when he cried, "enough." In the year seventeen hundred and eighty-four, he came to Bethel and com- menced clearing land on the north side of the river on the farm afterward occupied by Mr. Alphin Twitchell. He cleared several acres of interval, and the next year secured a burn and sowed it with winter rye, but the great freshet that year carried the drift stuff on to it in such immense quantities, that he lost one-half of his ground that year, but the remainder bore a prodigious crop. About this time, in consequence of his father's age, and he being the youngest son, he returned to Sherburn and took the charge of the homestead. He married for his first wife, Miss Sarah Bullard, May eighth, seventeen hundred and eighty-three, who died, and for his second wife Miss Amy Perry, June tenth, seventeen hundred and ninety-three. She was the daughter of Edward West Perry of Sherburn. He had eight children, three by his first wife and five by the second. All settled in Bethel except the eldest two, who died young.
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Captain Twitchell kept a tavern in Natick, which in those days was of no small importance. He was an assessor of the town at the time the Federal currency was introduced. He had quite a task in teaching the tax payers how to reckon in dollars and cents instead of pounds, shillings and pence. He was a soldier under General Lincoln and marched to quell Shay's rebellion. He was afterwards chosen Captain of the Militia, and did military honors on the death of Washington. In the spring of eighteen hundred and ten he came to Bethel and commenced a farm on the flat on Pleasant river, at the place afterward occupied by his son, Col. Eli Twitchell. In eighteen hundred and sixteen, he made a public profession of religion and united with the Congregational church of Bethel, and till his death was a consistent member. For thirty-five years of his life he was a vegetarian. Meat, tea and coffee were forbidden articles, and to this habit he attributed his long life. When over ninety years of age, he walked four miles to church, standing in front of the desk leaning on his long cane, during the prayers and sermons on both parts of the day, and then walked home after services. This he did through choice of exercise, and this he was accustomed to do till a short time before his death. He was a man of strong native powers and of a reflective and philo- sophic turn of mind. He prepared a manuscript of his own on Natural Philosophy. A favorite problem of his which he would propose to every educated man whom he met and which he seemed to meditate upon much of his time, was what he used to call his philoso- phical riddle. The earth and the moon travel round the sun. If they travel one way every time they go round the sun, there will be one day more than the earth revolves on its axis, and one more than the moon travels round the earth. If they travel the other way, the earth will revolve on its axis once more than we have days, and the moon will travel round the earth once more than we have moons. Question : Which way should they travel to have the extra day and extra moon? It gratified him very much to have any one acknowledge that they could not solve it. He drew a small pension from the government. He received an injury by being struck with a carriage while out on his walks, and died November eighteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, aged ninety-four years and five months.
JOSEPH AND MARY TWITCHELL.
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JOSEPH TWITCHELL.
Joseph Twitchell, son of Captain Eleazer Twitchell, was the first male child born on Bethel Hill and the first in the West Parish. Peregrine, son of Jesse Duston. was the first child born in town, his- place of birth being what is now Hanover, and Joseph Twitchell was, by common consent, the second. He was born in the house situated on the island at the foot of Mill Hill, March twelve, seven- teen hundred and eighty-two. He spent his minority with his father and received such education as the brief terms of school afforded. His father was much engaged in lumbering and in this branch of his business, Joseph was his able assistant. Much of the pine timber growing upon the intervals of Bethel was cut and sold to parties in Brunswick, where it was manufactured into lumber for the West India market. This valuable pine timber brought only a very small price, but little more than enough to pay for the labor required to put it into the river, and when Joseph Twitchell became of age, it was arranged that he should go to Brunswick and take charge of the business at that end of the line. He operated mills in Brunswick for some time, but the embargo placed upon American shipping during the last war with Great Britain, was very damaging to the lumber interests at Brunswick and at other places where a foreign market was depended upon, and Mr. Twitchell returned to Bethel where he engaged in farming. His place was east of what is now Vernon street, and this street is part of the road laid out to his premises as shown in the town records.
Mr. Twitchell was moderate in his speech and movement, but he was a man of original thought and of sound judgment. He was among the first in town to adopt liberal views in regard to religious matters, and may be regarded as the father of the Universalist denomination in Bethel. His conclusions were reached by a careful study of the scriptures, and by applying to them what he regarded as a plain, common sense interpretation. He became convinced of the truth of the doctrine of universal salvation at a time when it was very unpopular, but he was outspoken in his belief and lived to see it adopted by a large number of citizens, and among them, some of the best in town. Mr. Twitchell had a logical mind, and in argument upon doctrinal matters, he was not easily overcome. He was also a strong temperance man, having lived through the period when ardent spirits were generally indulged in, and learned
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from observation if not from experience, of their baneful influence. When he became old he and his aged wife went to live with their son, Joseph A. Twitchell, who had erected a house on Vernon street, and here they spent their declining years, each dying at an advanced age.
JOHN A. TWITCHELL.
John Adams Twitchell was the fifth son and sixth child of Captain Peter and Amy (Perry) Twitchell, and was born in Sherburn, Massachusetts, September seventh, seventeen hundred and ninety- eight. He was a lad of twelve years when his father came to Bethel and settled on what was called the Flat in the west part of the town, on Pleasant river. He was brought up on his father's farm, attended the town schools, and being of a mechanical turn of mind he learned the trade of Nathan Twitchell, and became a house- wright. For some years he carried on both farming and carpenter- ing at the Flat, but finally in eighteen hundred and forty nine, he built him a house on Bethel Hill, moved here, and devoted his whole time to his trade. He was a superior workman, and some of the best work in the village was done under his direction. He was a member of the Congregational church, and contributed liberally to its support. He was an early temperance man, being one of the seven who organized the first temperance society in town. He united with the societies which followed the Washingtonians, the Sons of Temperance, and the Temperance Watchmen, and labored diligently and faithfully to do away with intemperance in the use of strong drink. He was a good man and citizen, and his influence was ever on the side of justice and right. He died on April thir- teenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES WALKER.
About the year seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, James Walker came to Bethel, and opened a store in one of the rooms in Captain Eleazer Twitchell's house. This was the first regular store in town, though Captain Twitchell and his brother Eli had kept a few West India goods to accommodate the people. In eighteen hundred and two he built a large house and store on the southeast side of the Common. This was the second dwelling house on the Common. He continued in the store a few years, when, about the year eighteen
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hundred and seventeen, he studied theology and afterwards entered the ministry. In eighteen hundred and six, Gardiner Walker, brother of the preceding, built a store on the site of the one long occupied by Ira C. Kimball and went into trade. He was a single man, and in a few years sold out to his brother Ezekiel. The building was afterward used as a saddler's shop, and was moved by Phineas Stearns, to a spot near his residence.
JAMES WALKER, 2D. P
James Walker, son of John and Eliza (Calef) Walker, married Hannah Barker of Bethel. He purchased of Jonathan Abbot, the mill property at South Bethel, and the hamlet there was long known as Walker's Mills. He was a man of considerable enterprise, re- built the mills and largely increased their capacity. He established wool-carding and cloth-dressing mills which were operated as long as there was any demand for such mills. He also kept a store, and encouraged other industries to be established in the place. The place was for some years the rival of Locke's Mills in Greenwood. Mr. Walker lost heavily in what is known as the "land speculation," in eighteen hundred and thirty-seven or thereabout, and was ever after more or less financially embarassed. He was a member of the Congregational church at Bethel Hill, and was a constant atten- dant though living four miles distant. He served his town in various capacities, and one term as Representative to the Legisla- ture. He had a family of eight children, some of whom have deceased and others left the town.
JOHN WILLIAMSON.
John Williamson was born in Manor Hamilton, Ireland, either in seventeen hundred and eighty-six or eighty-seven. He celebrated the hundredth anniversary of his birth in eighteen hundred and eighty-six. He came to Bethel in eighteen hundred and twenty-one with his wife and children, and settled in Bethel. He was a shoe- maker by trade, but followed farming after he came to Bethel. He was a lover of nature and of the land he cultivated. He was well educated and well versed in ancient history. He was never natural- ized, having a strong attachment for England and her institutions, especially the established church of which he was a faithful member.
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He was also much attached to the land of his adoption and its free institutions. He was a great student of the Bible, which was his constant companion, and of which he had committed to memory many chapters. He was a very interesting man socially and other- wise, and his conversation was always entertaining and instructive. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann McClure, passed on many years before him, and during his later years, he was tenderly cared. for by his daughter, Mrs. Elias M. Carter and her sons. They anticipated his every want, accomplished everything that loving hearts could suggest and willing hands perform to make his last years happy, and smooth the way to the bank of the dark river.
CHAPTER XVII.
ABSTRACT OF TOWN RECORDS.
1797 TO 1850.
ETHEL has been signally fortunate in the choice of record- ing officers and as a result its town records are remark- ably well made. The town has also been fortunate in preserving them from the ravages of fire which has proven so dis- astrous to valuable archives in many of our Maine towns. The records of proceedings began with the incorporation of the town in seventeen hundred and ninety six ; unfortunately the records of marriages, births and deaths, for the first five years, are lost. The first town clerk was Benjamin Russell, Esq., whose records are models of neatness and intelligent expression. He held the office for a period of five years, and until near the close of his life. He was succeeded by Dr. Timothy Carter, who held the office twelve years, and whose records are among the very best in the series of volumes. He wrote a plain, open hand, his pages were not over- crowded, and are therefore easily consulted. The next clerk, Capt. John Holt, was doubtless more familiar with the sword than the pen, nevertheless considering the times and the opportunities for a busi- ness education, he has left us a very fair page. Barbour Bartlett was an excellent recording officer, and held the position seventeen years. Elias M. Carter was clerk for many years, and was an ex- ceptionally good recording officer. William Frye, Esq., occasion- ally filled the position of town clerk, and for a lawyer he wrote a remarkably fine hand. He wrote with a quill pen, as did all the early clerks, and his letters are uniform, giving great neatness to the appearance of his pages.
In substance, the early records are much like those of other towns. The business was chiefly routine, and the records present but little variety year after year. Money had to be raised for the building and repair of roads, for school purposes, and to meet the
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current expenses of the town. The road question to the early settlers was a serious one. The town was large, and for a number of years there were only two thoroughfares through it from east to west, and this necessitated a large number of settlers' roads. Aside from the Androscoggin, the four rivers in town, Pleasant, Sunday, Bear and Alder rivers, required bridges, and being subject to sud- den and frequent freshets, to keep them properly bridged required no small sum of money. Roads were often indicted, and an agent had to be sent to Paris at nearly every session of the court to look after the town's interest. The road question stands out prominent- ly in the records and is one of their leading features.
Notwithstanding their monotony or general sameness, the records present evidence from time to time going to show that the Center school house, the Center meeting house, and later the town house, formed the arena of many a wordy battle. The town was long and large, was divided into two parishes in which there were conflicting interests, but more imaginary than real. The loaves and fishes, even in those days, formed an important element in town affairs, and the contest for office often arrayed parish against parish, and the side that was beaten frequently introduced into the next meet- ing a proposition to divide the town ; this was always voted down by a decided majority. Some of the early settlers were good talk- ers, and each parish had those that could defend its interests in town meeting. Samuel B. Locke was a man of ability and a good debater. General Amos Hastings, Capt. Eleazer Twitchell, Dr. John Grover, Barbour Bartlett, Jedediah Burbank and James Walker were men who made their influence felt in moulding the affairs of the town. But the two men most potent in management and who held sway the longest, were Dr. Moses Mason and Phineas Frost. The former was more affable and a better manager, but the latter was the better speaker and possessed that perseverance and pertinacity so certain to bring success. Mr. Frost was en rapport with the ground tier, and the champion of the poor. When the town received its proportion of the surplus revenue, there was much disagreement as to what disposition should be made of it, and several meetings did nothing but discuss the question, and the debate was very bitter. Mr. Frost took ground in favor of dividing it per capita among the inhabitants of the town, and finally he carried his point. The next year he was elected to the Legislature with unprecedented unanimity. Both Mr. Frost and Doctor Mason
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were on the board of selectmen for many years, but rarely at the same time.
In politics, Bethel early affiliated with the Democratic party. In the war of eighteen hundred and twelve-sixteen, this town warmly supported the national administration, and bitterly opposed the action of Massachusetts in refusing to furnish troops for the prose- cution of the war. This probably accounts for the fact, that when- ever the question of separation from Massachusetts came up in town meeting, Bethel uniformly voted in favor of the measure. The small Whig party embraced some of the most intelligent men in town, but they became divided upon the slavery issue and for several years there were three parties in town. The town was in favor of the prohibition of the liquor traffic, and when that issue was first. presented, there was a strong vote for an irregular candidate. In eighteen hundred and fifty-four, the town threw a majority of its. votes for Anson P. Morrill, who had been nominated for Governor on the Maine Law issue. When a year later, the Republican party was formed, this town gave it a hearty support, and since that time, a period of thirty-six years, it has uniformly given adherance to that party. None of the leading old time Democrats joined the new party, but lived and died in their early political faith, but the young men have been largely Republican. The votes for governor from time to time as shown in the following abstracts of town pro- ceedings, indicate how parties were inclined and divided. In the administration of its own affairs, the town has always been prudent and economical, Careful about incurring indebtedness and prompt in the payment of its liabilities.
The incorporation of Hanover in eighteen hundred and forty- three was opposed by the town because it embraced some excellent farms and valuable citizens. Not much though could be done or said against it, for the people upon this territory were isolated by the river, far from the Bethel centers of business and far from the town's voting place. About twenty-three hundred acres of land were taken from Bethel, besides Howard's Gore, to form the new town. The following abstracts from the town records may not be of special historical value, and might perhaps have been properly omitted from this volume, were it certain that the original records would always be preserved, but town records are often destroyed by fire, and if such should ever be the fate of Bethel town records, these few abstracts will be of great interest as showing the time of the
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location of certain roads and the progress of political parties as indicated by the recorded votes ; they also give the names of the principal actors in the management of this municipality, who have long since passed away. The proceedings of the first meeting are given elsewhere.
1797. The meeting was held the first Monday in March. -Jonathan Clark was chosen moderator and Benjamin Russell, clerk. For selectmen, Jesse Duston, Jonathan Clark and Jeremiah Andrews. Joseph G. Swan was made collector and constable. For tythingmen, Enoch Bartlett, Ezra Twitchell, Oliver Fenno, Asa Kimball, and Jesse Duston. For surveyors of ways, Moses Bart- lett, Theodore Russell, Amos Hastings, Eli Twitchell, Josiah Bean and Amos Powers. Hogreeves, Simeon Twitchell, John Stearns, Thomas Frost, Nathaniel Swan and John Russell. Surveyors of lumber, Jonathan Clark, Jesse Duston and Amos Hastings. Fence viewers, Joseph Greenwood, William Russell, Jesse Duston, Jere- miah Andrews and Oliver Fenno. At a meeting on the first Monday in April, Moses Gill had fourteen votes for Governor, and Increase Sumner the same number for Lieutenant-Governor. At a meeting in August, a child which was a town charge, was bid off by Simeon Twitchell until eighteen years of age for twenty-four dollars. Voted that William Russell have the fourteenth lot in the eleventh range, on the north side of the river.
1798. The meeting was held at the house of Captain Amos Hastings, March fifth. Ezra Twitchell was chosen moderator and Benjamin Russell, clerk. Jonathan Bartlett was chosen treasurer, Eli Twitchell, constable, and Aaron Barton, collector, who agreed to collect for four cents on a dollar. Joseph Greenwood, Joseph G. Swan, John York, Oliver Fenno, Jesse Duston, Walter Mason, John Holt and Josiah Bean, surveyors of highways, and Nathaniel Segar, Jonathan Bartlett, Amnos Gage, Eleazer Twitchell, Amos Hastings, Josiah Bean and Walter Mason, school committee. For tythingmen, Amos Gage, Josiah Bean, Jesse Duston, Theodore Russell and John Ellingwood. The school committee was instructed to divide the town into school districts. A committee consisting of Eli Twitchell, Josiah Bean and Jonathan Clark was chosen to locate, ferries and the prices of ferriage. At a meeting on the second day of April, Increase Sumner had twenty votes for Governor, and the
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same number were cast for Nathaniel Wells and Simon Frye for senators. At the same meeting, it was voted that there be three school houses built in town and three hundred dollars were raised for that purpose. Eli Twitchell, John Holt and Josiah Bean were made a committee to take charge of the building of the school houses. Voted not to raise any money for the support of schools, and to raise one hundred dollars for the repair of roads. Voted fifty dollars to defray town charges. At an adjourned meeting, the committee on the location of school houses, voted that the one for the East Parish be near the house of Thaddeus Bartlett ; the one for the center of the town be located at Middle Interval, south of Captain Amos Hasting's house, and the one in the West Parish be near John Stearns' barn. At a meeting May thirtieth, it was voted to take the ministerial interval lot into the hands of the town and lease what had not been improved. At a meeting the last of October, three hundred dollars additional were raised for roads, and the committee on school houses was instructed to call a meeting of the town and receive proposals for furnishing materials.
1799. The meeting was held March the fourth at the usual place. Jonathan Clark was chosen moderator and Benjamin Russell, clerk. For selectmen, Eli Twitchell, Gideon Powers and Oliver Fenno. Aaron Barton bid off the taxes to collect and was chosen constable. The surveyors of highways this year were Moses Mason, Walter Mason, Josiah Bean, Gideon Powers, Amos Hastings, Pere- grine Bartlett, Jeremiah Andrews, Abraham Russell and Amos Gage. Surveyors of lumber, Jonathan Clark, Nathaniel Segar and Nathaniel Swan. Fence viewers, Eliphaz Chapman, Amos Hast- ings, Thaddeus Bartlett, Theodore Russell and John Grover. Hogreeves, Jonathan Coffin, Moses Frost, Eliphalet Lane and Timothy A. Holt. Field drivers, John Grover, Reuben Bartlett and Thaddeus Bartlett. Voted three hundred dollars for roads and sixty for town charges. Eighteen votes were thrown for Increase Sumner for Governor. For Register of Deeds for the district north of the Great Ossipee, in the county of York, Elijah Russell had thirteen votes, Moses Ames, nine, and William Russell, three. At a second trial, William Russell had twenty-two, Moses Ames, nine, and James Osgood, one.
1800. Eli Twitchell was chosen moderator and Benjamin Rus- sell, clerk. Amos Gage bid off the collection of taxes, and Jere-
11
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miah Andrews was chosen treasurer. For highway surveyors, Amos Hastings, Peregrine Bartlett, Josiah Bean, Richard Estes, Nathaniel Segar, Simeon Twitchell, John Russell, Eli Grover, Joseph G. Swan, James Grover. Tythingmen, Charles Stearns, Aaron Barton and John Ellingwood. For sealers of leather, Benjamin Brown and Ezra Twitchell. Voted six hundred dollars for roads, one hundred dollars for summer schools and one hundred for winter schools. Eliphaz Chapman and John Evans were chosen a committee to examine Samuel B. Locke's mills and ascertain whether he had fulfilled his contract with the town. Moses Gill had eighteen votes for Governor, and Elbridge Gerry the same number for Lieutenant-Governor. A meeting on the thirteenth of August was had at the school house at Middle Interval. It was voted to build a bridge over Alder river, and Theodore Russell was chosen a com- mittee to oversee the work. Other members of the committee were Eliphaz Chapman and Phineas Haywood (Howard). Three hun- dred dollars were raised for building it.
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